Jaguars Notebook: Players talk it over at team meeting

Whether or not the Jaguars make the playoffs is partially out of their hands.

To make sure his teammates didn't let that affect their performances, veteran cornerback Rashean Mathis called a players'-only meeting on Monday.

"Colts win or lose, we gotta end this season on a strong note," Jaguars defensive end Jeremy Mincey said. "It's about going into next year. That shows heart and dedication. Guys know that we've got slim chances of getting into the playoffs, but [we're] still focusing on winning and not feeling sorry for yourself."

Guard Uche Nwaneri was among the players who spoke at the meeting.

"I didn't want to go into rah-rah mode. I just said look at yourself," Nwaneri said. "Look at the games we played well and look at how we did it. Everybody playing fundamentally sound. We did it by executing plays. By having a confidence. That's something that we're lacking right now."

The Jaguars' chances of going to the playoffs rest on the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. If the Jaguars beat the Texans and the Colts lose to the Titans, Jacksonville will win the AFC South and go to the playoffs. Under any other scenario, the Colts win the AFC South.

"It was just team bonding," Mincey said of the meeting. "Lot of guys talking to a lot of the young guys, tell them don't give in, don't ever give in. Just evaluation. This is evaluation. You give in now, your chances are slim to be here next year. You gotta play to win, and you gotta do what you do at your best."

One big motivating factor for the Jaguars is that they don't want to end this season on a losing streak like they did last season. Last year, the Jaguars lost their final four games.

"I personally would be embarrassed," Nwaneri said. "I would personally be upset and embarrassed if we lost a third game in a row in the same fashion that we did last year, just not playing well at all. Not giving ourselves a chance."

Defending Garrard

Jaguars general manager Gene Smith defended quarterback David Garrard during Smith's weekly radio show Monday evening.

"He's not the only player that didn't play well," Smith said. "This is a team sport. And he made some tremendous plays to keep us in that football game."

Garrard completed 22-of-38 passes. He threw for 299 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions, including one in overtime that set up the Redskins' game-winning field goal.

"Going into last weekend's game, he was ninth in the NFL for passer rating," Smith said. "He had done some good things up to that point. Football is a team sport. I'm trying to emphasize that to everyone because I truly believe that."

Concussion for Miller

Backup tight end Zach Miller suffered a concussion in the first quarter against the Washington Redskins.

Miller left the game and did not return.

He was in the locker room wearing dark sunglasses on Monday afternoon and said he was on his way to take his concussion test.

The Jaguars had been putting Miller on the field with starter Marcedes Lewis frequently.

Little room to run

In place of an injured Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars running back Rashad Jennings picked up 32 yards on 15 carries.

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said that had more to do with blocking than with Jennings' ability.

"He was ready to give us a whole lot more. We just needed to give him a lot more space," Del Rio said.

On Sunday, Del Rio was asked if the Jaguars' pass-blocking struggled because Jones-Drew wasn't in the game.

Del Rio said he noticed on film that Jennings actually made an important block on Garrard's touchdown pass to Mike Thomas.

I am like bunches of other fans, contemplating the NFL Package on cable for next season. As least I can follow winning teams and not pay ten dollars for a hot dog and drink. Every game after the cost of the ticket is usually another 50 to 60 dollars after parking and a small snack or a drink for my group.

I have been loyal for the last five years buying seasons tickets and yes, this year it hurt to make that purchase but I did anyway.

Not only are the plays predictable, the after game excuses are the same every time also, "we just didn't execute" how many times have we heard that this year? We have had team meetings enough this year. The Team needs to meet on the field on Sundays and show they are a team.

One thing about our Jaguars, they are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.